Casey Raiha, soloist, with Jeremy Berdin, Jared Hernandez & Duncan Clark Menzies; Bobby Rullo, guitar, Sam Peters, piano, Jack Reed, drums, Pamela Gerke, composer/arranger; Tom Fallat, recording engineer, Sound Sound Studio, Seattle, WA, 2020-2021
Sick and wounded soldiers in the Crimean War sing a love paean to Florence. She makes the rounds of the hospital every night with her lamp, offering a comforting, female solace in their misery. The lyrics are adapted from Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s poem about Nightingale, “Santa Filomena”: “And slow, as in a dream of bliss, / The speechless sufferer turns to kiss / Her shadow, as it falls / Upon the darkening walls.” Longfellow was in turn inspired by a letter written by a soldier that was widely published and helped to create the mythos around Nightingale.
Sung by Miranda Antoinette & Duncan Clark Menzies; Sam Peters, piano, & Jack Reed, drums; Pamela Gerke, composer/arranger; Tom Fallat, recording engineer, Sound Sound Studio, Seattle, 2020-2021.
Florence’s longtime suitor, Richard Monckton Milnes, makes one last effort to convince her to marry him. She’s tempted, but…..
Sung by: Miranda Antoinette; Sam Peters, piano, Jack Reed, drums, & Dr. William Bryant, woodwinds; Pamela Gerke, composer/arranger; Tom Fallat, recording engineer; Sound Sound Studio, Seattle, 2020-2021.
Florence has finally escaped her family for the evening and, alone in her room, is writing letters to medical scientists, Sidney Herbert, her cousin Hilary, and her close friend, Clarkey. Her letter-writing reveals the depth and breadth of her intellect and interests and her passion and destiny to work in hospitals and nursing, as well as her sense of humor and gift for mimicry. Her Aunt Mai had told her, “Something is getting ready for you and you will be sure to turn up in time.”
Sung by: Miranda Antoinette, Mark Abel, Jeremy Berdin, Arwen Dewey, Camilla Ethridge, Andrea Hansen, Jared Hernandez, Duncan Clark Menzies, Julie Olsen, Casey Raiha; Sam Peters, piano, Jack Reed, drums, & Dr. William Bryant, woodwinds; Pamela Gerke, composer/arranger; Tom Fallat, recording engineer, Sound Sound Studio, Seattle, 2020-2021.
Throughout the 1840’s Florence’s family and members of society crowd her with demands, penning her in with limited expectations for a young woman of her time and social position. Yet two of Florence’s allies appear to give her strength: Sidney Herbert, her dear friend and lifelong supporter and a man who holds powerful roles in government, and Selena “Sig” Bracebridge, a close friend who promises to take Florence on a trip to Egypt and to visit the institute in Germany where nursing is being taught.
Sung by: Mark Abel, Jeremy Berdin, Arwen Dewey, Camilla Ethridge, Andrea Hansen, Jared Hernandez, Duncan Clark Menzies, Julie Olsen, Casey Raiha; Sam Peters, piano, Jack Reed, drums, & Dr. William Bryant, woodwinds; Pamela Gerke, composer/arranger; Tom Fallat, recording engineer, Sound Sound Studio, Seattle, 2020-2021.
Nightingale published Notes on Nursing: What it is and What it is Not in 1859. This seminal book is still in print today! In the film, modern day nursing students sing of the essential elements of Nightingale’s instructions for healing: clean water, air and environment, plus compassionate care of the patient and keeping data about the healing process. “What it is: Keen Mind, Clear Eye, Pure Heart, and Ladies & Gentlemen please keep our home clean!”